Loose-leaf binder



1944- 1.. LICHTENSTEIN 4,

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed July 1, 1945 Sea Lcizz erzsfez'lz W 2 I fife/v e Patented Dec. 12, 1944 LOOSE-LEAF BiNDEB LeoLichtenstein, Chicago, 111.: Application July 1, 1943, Serial No 493,045

1 Claim. 101429-11 This invention relates to a construction of loose leaf binder and more particularly to a novel andimproved construction of the loose leaf binder ring.

Binder rings embodying the invention are adapted for use with loose leaf binders-and loose leaf ledgers, memorandum books and the like. Heretofore, insofar as I am aware, loose leaf binder rings customarily have been made entirely of metal, supplies of which often, and more particularly at the present time, are limited.

An object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf binder ring of strong yet simple construction, which is made entirely of plastic material,

thereby eliminating entirely the use of metal in such construction.

l Another object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder ring of the character described having novel and improvedmeans' associated therewith and formed integrally therewith for securely attaching the same to the back member of the loose leaf binder.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved loose leaf binder ring entirely made of anon-metallic material comprising a base portion which may be disposed in substantially flat relationship on the back member of the binder and secured thereto such position by a rivet or the like extending through said base portion whereby the ring will be held in a substantially rigid position withtrespect "to the back member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder ring of th character described constructed entirely of non-metallic material and comprising a base portion having a pair of substantially semi-circular arms extending from said base portion with the free ends of said arms overlapping and being normally disposed in transversely spaced relation, said free ends being provided with means for automatically interlocking when such ends are abutted endwise whereby all parts of the ring will be in continuous and unbroken arcuate disposition.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf binder ring of the character described which may be constructed of nonmetallic material, which may be produced along lines conventiont for low costmanufacture and which at the same time will be highly efficient for carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combmati-nn of parts, hereinafter/fully described, illustrated in i the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appendedcl'aim, it being I understood that variousichanges'in the form, prcportion, size and'minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Eorthe "purpose of facilitating an understand: ing of myinvention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a. preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my. invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and'many-lof its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring 'to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to iI-idicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a looseie binderring embodying my invention. Y

. Fig, 2 is a top plan view ofthe same in closed position with parts thereof being shown in sec- Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the ring shownin Fig. 4.

. Fig.i 6 a sectional view through a loose leaf binder showing one of the rings embodying my invention secured thereto with parts thereof being shown in section.

Stated generally, the invention contemplates the construction of a loose leaf binder ring made entirely of non-metallic material, such as a phenol plastic material or the like in place of the metal ring heretofore customarily used for this purpose.

The ring proper comprises a substantially annular base portion, the lower face of which is relatively fiat and may be suitably serrated or knurled, which serrated portion may be placed in contacting engagement with theback member of the looseleaf binder when the, ring is secured in place to the binder. Extending from said base portion are a pair of arcuate arms of' substantially semi-circular formation, the free ends of said arms being offset in transversely resiliency of the material. When in this posi in assembled position with each other.

tion, the free ends of the arms will be transversely spaced from each other and'will thus permit the threading of the paper sheets thereon. When it is desired to close the ring, the ring may be slightly expanded and the ends thereof abutted endwise, in which position the ring will be automatically locked and the same will be in a continuous and unbroken arcuate disposition.

Referring specifically to the drawing by char-' acters of reference, the particular form of binder disclosed consists of a back member ID and a pair of cover members I I on opposite sides of the As shown in Fig. 6, my improved j back member. binder ring is adapted for rigid attachment with the back member ID, in which position the ring will rest solidl and against any wobblingor other movement on the back member. The ring proper consists of a base portion--l2 which may be of substantially annular formation and a size sufiicient to give a firm support to the ring when secured to the back member H1. The lower sur face of the annular base portion I2 is knurled or serrated, as'shownat 13, for the purpose vof bit ing into the back member I'll when the two are A suitable opening M is provided through the portion l2 which opening is counter-sunk, as shown at l5, and through which opening'is adapted to extend a suitable rivet l6 having a head H by means of which the said ring is permanently and rigidly secured to the back member Ill.

Formed integralwith the base portion l2. are a pair of substantially semi-circular arms lBand l9, said arms extending from substantially di-1 ametrically opposed points of said base portion and .are arranged so that the free ends-thereof,

as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, will be inoverlapping relation and normally spaced apart transversely of the ring. The inherent resiliency of the material from which the ring is constructed will normally hold the ends thereof in such transversely spaced position. As already stated,.the ring may. be cast from suitable phenol plastic material, which material has been found will have the necessary inherent I.

resiliency for accomplishing the purposes hereinabove set forth. The. arm I9 is provided at its free end with the conical extremity 20 and the arm 18. has formed in. its extremity a conical socket 2! within which said portion 20 is adapted to be received.

When it is desired to close the ring, the samev may be slightly expanded and the free ends of the arms l8 and I9 moved to a position where they will be disposed in the same vertical plane whereby the ends of the ring may then be caused to move into interlocking engagement in which .position the said ends willabut closely in arcuate disposition in the same plane. The ring will be securel closed and held, in such closed position by the interlocking of the portions 2|] and 2|.

Due to the rigid support afforded the ring member by'reason of the baselportion'be ing in engagement with theback member 10, it will be apparent that the ring may be opened and closed a great number of times without loosening the same from its support with the back member. It will also be apparent that the construction and design of the ring readily lends itself to manufacture' from non-metallic materials, as well as being economical in both construction and as sembly with the loose leaf binder.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its'adsaid base portion and joined at diametrically opposite points to the peripheral edge of said base portion, said arms having their free ends normally in overlapped transversely spaced relation, a socket onthe free end of one of said arms, said socket being adapted to receive the end of the other arm when the'freeends of the arms are spread apart and urged into'alignment laterally so that the inherent resiliency of the arms tends to hold the free ends *in tight abutment, and serrations on the bottom face of said base,

'said'base having an axial opening for receiving a rivet therethrough by means. of which the' binder ring is fastened to a: binder in such manner that the serrations will engage in the binder to prevent rotation of the binder ring.

LEO LICHTENSTEIN. 

